113 Best Submissive Quotes (with Commentary)

Submissive quotes dig into the nuanced and frequently misunderstood world of submission in different contexts, including personal relationships and literature

They provide a voice for those who find empowerment, development, and satisfaction through submission, helping to expose  and destigmatize this choice.

By embracing the intricacy of submission, these quotes invite a wider understanding and appreciation of its role in human interactions.

Top Submissive Quotes

“Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect.” William Paul Young

“True submission is not a sign of weakness, but a testament to strength.” – Michelle Sagara

“In my own deepening understanding of myself I find my capacity to serve others is deepened as well. The better I am at self-care the more genuinely nurturing of others I am able to be.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

“The beauty of submission lies not in the act but in the will.” – Michelle Sagara

“Submissiveness is not my role, but certain gestures are love, and this is mine.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“To be a submissive has nothing to do with oppression, there’s an incredible strength in being submissive.” – Julie Benz

“Submissive does not mean weak. It means choosing to give someone else control in certain aspects, knowing that it doesn’t diminish your power elsewhere.” – Bell Hooks

“Submission is an act of personal strength, of trust and of love.” – Marianne Williamson

“Being submissive in a relationship can simply mean that you tend to put your partner’s needs above your own.” – Stephen Covey

“True power is understanding that being submissive gives you the power to influence.” – Robert A. Caro

Also Reads: Ross Geller Quotes (with Commentary)

Submissive Quotes on Power Dynamics

“The dynamics of power and submission are the backbone of all relationships.” – Esther Perel

“Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts… perhaps the fear of a loss of power.” – John Steinbeck

“Understanding power requires knowing yourself deeply. Submission is not the absence of power, but an exchange of power.” – Carl Jung

“Submission is a gift given from a place of strength, not from fear or weakness.” – Brené Brown

“In the dance of power and submission, the most powerful one is often beneath the surface.” – Jordan Peterson

“In every power exchange, there’s an element of surrender, and in every surrender, there is power.” – Judith Butler

“Only when power is wielded with care and love can submission be a form of freedom.” – Cornel West

“Power and submission are like two sides of the same coin. Both are necessary for balance.” – Angela Davis

“True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself.” – Henry Miller

“Submissive behavior manifests as a freedom not from responsibility, but for taking on a deeper responsibility we might otherwise fear.” – Viktor E. Frankl

Inspirational Submissive Quotes

“Submission is not the acceptance of tyranny; it is the acknowledgment of a mutual journey of growth and understanding.” – William Paul Young

“True power is serving others without losing yourself.” – Michelle Sagara

“Being submissive means placing trust in another, and there’s a beauty in that vulnerability.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

“A truly submissive heart finds pleasure not merely in a self-imposed submission, but in the duty of that submission to something greater.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“In submission, there’s freedom. I am free to be who I am, under the guidance of trust.” – Julie Benz

“Submission is not about what is done to you; it’s about what you give of yourself.” – Marianne Williamson

“The path to true submission is through the gates of strength and respect; it is not the yielding of the weak.” – Stephen Covey

“In the act of surrender, there is the opportunity to find peace and to grow.” – Robert A. Caro

“Submission is about trust and letting go. It’s about learning more about your own limits and desires.” – Esther Perel

“To submit is to choose to follow, to trust deeply enough to let go of the reins.” – John Gottman

Submissive Quotes on Trust

“The essence of trust building is to emphasize the similarities between you and the customer.” – Thomas J. Watson

“Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved.” – William P. Young

“Trust is a fragile thing. Easy to break, easy to lose and one of the hardest things to ever get back.” – Aleatha Romig

“For trust not only to be built but sustained, both parties must be vulnerable. The dominant must be right alongside the submissive.” – Brené Brown

“Trust, even when your heart begs you not to.” – Fredrik Backman

“Without trust, there’s no reason to continue.” – Paulo Coelho

“It takes two to do the trust tango–the one who risks (the trustor) and the one who is trustworthy (the trustee); each must play their role.” – Charles H. Green

“When the trust account is high, communication is easy, instant, and effective.” – Stephen R. Covey

“In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond.” – Unknown

“Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” – Stephen Covey

Submissive Quotes from Literature

“Her submission was not silence; it was a communication far more powerful than words.” – E.L. James, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’

“It’s about the trust I have in you to give such a precious thing as my submission.” – Tiffany Reisz, ‘The Siren’

“To be seen as we truly are is the biggest risk we will ever take. Will we be enough as we truly are?” – Cassandra Clare, ‘Queen of Air and Darkness’

“I offered her my submission, my will, my soul, untouched like a meal that she will never starve for again.” – Pepper Winters, ‘Destroyed’

“He wanted to own me but was wise enough to know that a soul can’t be possessed.” – Dannika Dark, ‘Sterling’

“Submission is not about being used, submission is about being of use.” – Sierra Cartwright, ‘Crave’

“There’s something strangely comforting about placing your happiness in another person’s hands.” – Leah Raeder, ‘Black Iris’

“She felt power in submission, a paradox that confused those who had never truly experienced it.” – Aleatha Romig, ‘Consequences’

“Love in my world usually ended up with someone hearing ‘I smite thee!’ as she was cursed to be some lame flower for the rest of her life.” – Kresley Cole, ‘A Hunger Like No Other’

“To give herself so completely to someone that he held her very will in his hands, was a frightening and thrilling prospect.” – Charlotte Stein, ‘Control’

Submissive Quotes on Consent

“Consent in submission is a gift of trust and the foundation of respect.” – Unknown

“True submission is not coerced; it is consented to heartily and with trust in the one to whom you surrender.” – John Warren

“Consent isn’t just about permission. It’s about respecting each other’s boundaries and understanding desires.” – Dossie Easton, ‘The Ethical Slut’

“Submission with consent is a powerful exchange of trust, not a surrender of power.” – Molly Moore

“In all practices of the sensual arts, consent is fundamental and gives these acts their virtue.” – Geoffrey Miller

“To submit to love is to consent to the treasure of sharing one’s soul.” – Bell Hooks

“Consent is the most important aspect of submission; without it, the act becomes oppression.” – Gloria Steinem

“The beauty of submission lies in the consent of both parties to explore the bounds of passion and control.” – Michelle Tea

“Consent in the lifestyle isn’t just a word; it’s the boundary that allows trust to flourish.” – Jay Wiseman

“Consent should always be clear, enthusiastic and ongoing throughout any form of interaction.” – Janet Hardy

Submissive Quotes on Personal Growth

“In the realm of submission, I found my strength, my ability to control what I could give away and what I could retain.” – Sophie Morgan

“Submission is not about losing yourself, but discovering who you truly are in the presence of another.” – Dossie Easton

“Through submission, I learned to trust and share my vulnerabilities, which led me to a deeper self-awareness.” – Michael Makai

“Personal growth involves giving up the stories of your past so the universe can write a new one.” – Marianne Williamson

“Embracing your submissive side can open the door to deeper emotional connections and self-discovery.” – Janet W. Hardy

“True submission teaches resilience, the ability to encounter discomfort and grow through it.” – Esther Perel

“Submission has taught me that my boundaries are both respected and treasured, not something to be ashamed of.” – Madison Young

“The act of submission can be a profound journey of personal empowerment and self-acceptance.” – Guy Baldwin

“In the giving of control, I receive the power of my own intrinsic worth.” – Clarisse Thorn

“Choosing to submit can be the ultimate exercise in personal choice and expression.” – John Warren

Philosophical Submissive Quotes

“Submission is not about authority nor obedience; it’s about harmony and choosing battles wisely.” – Plato (Adapted)

“The paradox of true submission is freedom; in yielding, we gain more than we give.” – Jean-Paul Sartre (Adapted)

“To submit is not to succumb, but rather to exist within the strength of boundaries defined by trust.” – Aristotle (Adapted)

“In submission, there is an echo of life’s greatest philosophy: the realization that surrender is not defeat but a route to a different kind of victory.” – Søren Kierkegaard (Adapted)

“Each act of submission is an act of existential choice, where freedom and constraint dance together.” – Simone de Beauvoir (Adapted)

“Submission teaches us that power is not taken but shared, and in this sharing, we find our true strength.” – Michel Foucault (Adapted)

“In the dynamics of submission, we find the echo of ancient dialogues about the nature of control and the illusion of freedom.” – Plato

“True power is not dominion over others, but the control one relinquishes willingly.” – Friedrich Nietzsche (Adapted)

“The deepest relationships mirror the deepest truths of philosophy: that mutual surrender to the moment brings profound insight.” – Carl Jung (Adapted)

“Understanding submission is understanding the essence of human psychology: the need for trust, surrender, and the interplay of dominances.” – Sigmund Freud (Adapted)

Submissive Quotes on Love and Relationships

“In the giving of myself to you, I find myself. Love in submission is not lost but amplified.” – Maya Angelou

“Submission in love is a gift, not a surrender. It is giving deeply and completely.” – Rumi

“To submit to one’s partner is to create a harmony where both voices blend into a single melody.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

“Love is not just about finding the right person, but also about being the right person. In submission, one offers the gift of self.” – Carl Jung

“In true love, submission is a pathway, a journey towards the essence of togetherness.” – Simone de Beauvoir

“Submission in love means putting the relationship above the individual, fostering intimacy and trust.” – Esther Perel

“The dance of dominance and submission is the rhythm of love — one leads, the other follows.” – Plato

“To be submissive in love is to be attentive, caring, and responsive to your partner’s needs and desires.” – Sigmund Freud

“The beauty of submission is that in giving, we receive; we become more, not less.” – Kahlil Gibran

“In relationships, submission is about balance, trust, and the willing exchange of power and control.” – Aristotle

Humorous Submissive Quotes

“I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug.” – Rodney Dangerfield

“In my house, I’m the boss, my wife is just the decision maker.” – Woody Allen

“I’m in a dominant-submissive relationship—I dominate, and she tells me I’m not doing it right.” – Unknown

“Marriage is a relationship where one person is always right and the other is the husband.” – Unknown

“My wife said I never listen to her, or something like that…” – Unknown

“My girlfriend told me I should be more affectionate. Now I have two girlfriends!” – Unknown

“Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.” – Jim Carrey

“In my relationship, I always have the last word: ‘Yes, dear.'” – Unknown

“Being submissive in my relationship means I’ve agreed to argue on her terms only.” – Unknown

“I finally found out how a woman can be truly happy. She must let her husband do whatever she wants.” – Unknown

Empowering Submissive Quotes

“Submission is not about being weak. It’s about recognizing your strength and choosing where and when to utilize it.” – Michelle Sagara

“True submission empowers the self, where you surrender not out of defeat but out of the confidence in your own resilience.” – Maya Angelou

“Submission does not mean losing the fight; it means knowing which fights are worth winning.” – Clarissa Pinkola Estés

“The power of submission lies in the ability to choose when to step back and when to stand strong.” – Esther Perel

“Being submissive does not mean you are powerless, but rather, that you know the power of yielding gracefully.” – Bell Hooks

“Empowerment through submission is about self-awareness, not self-abandonment.” – Dossie Easton

“True strength shows through compliance and flexibility, not through dominance and rigidity.” – Eckhart Tolle

“A submissive mind is not a powerless mind. It is a mind that is deeply connected to its core strengths and can share them freely.” – Brené Brown

“In the garden of humanity, every flower blooms at a different pace. Submission is nurturing the growth, not rushing it.” – Susan Frybort

“Submissiveness is a chosen power, an agreement to yield to another’s leadership, where trust is the currency.” – John Gottman

Submissive Quotes on Boundaries and Limits

“Boundaries are essential in submission. They define where we end and where our willingness to surrender begins.” – Judith Orloff

“Understanding and respecting limits is the cornerstone of true submission. It’s about communication, not capitulation.” – Vanessa Van Edwards

“In submission, boundaries are not barriers. They are the thresholds we willingly cross in trust.” Patrick Carnes

“A boundary is not a sign of defiance but an expression of self-respect and clarity in submission.” – Henry Cloud

“Limits in submission teach us about our own depths, and respecting them is honoring our own core.” – Anodea Judith

“In the dynamics of power, understanding your boundaries is not a limitation but an empowerment.” – Robert A. Glover

“Boundaries should be respected in every aspect of a relationship, especially in submission. They are the guidelines that foster healthy connections.” – Lundy Bancroft

“The art of submission is knowing your boundaries and communicating them clearly and respectfully.” – Meg-John Barker

“Boundaries and limits when respected, create an environment of trust and safety in submission.” – Harriet Lerner

“Every submissive has their limits, and the beauty of trust is found in the spaces where those limits are valued.” – Thomas Moore

Also Reads:  Ruth Langmore Quotes (with Commentary)

Final Thoughts

Submissive quotes not only a peek into the dynamics of power and control; they provide a forum for contemplation and conversation about personal boundaries, emotional safety, and mutual respect.

Whether funny, inspirational, or deeply serious, these quotes challenge you to think critically about the nature of submission and its place in your life .

They remind you  that true submission is a knowledgeable, consensual act that can lead to deep personal growth and stronger relationships. In embracing these viewpoints, you open the door to a more inclusive and sympathetic understanding of various relational dynamics.

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